Alison Brie to star in 1980s wrestling Netflix comedy GLOW

Alison Brie has been cast as the female lead in the Netflix comedy GLOW (A.K.A. Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling).

Brie is undeniably something of a Queen in the geek community, primarily for her role as Annie Edison in Community and also her various roles within BoJack Horseman (not to mention her well-known turn as Trudy Campbell in Mad Men). It is common knowledge that Brie is very selective about which new roles her opts to take on and that she has turned down multiple offers, both comedy and drama. GLOW marks her first commitment as a recurring series regular since Community.

GLOW is inspired by the real story of the 1980s female wrestling league and the professional women’s wrestling syndicated TV series that existed back in that decade of hairspray and latex. The 10-episode, Los Angeles-set series will showcase all of the big hair and body slams of this wrestling era.

The cast of the real GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling), in the 1980s.

The show will tell the fictionalised story of Ruth (Brie) – an out of work actress who finds one last effort to live out her dreams within a weekly series about female wrestlers.

GLOW was co-created by Liz Flahive (Homeland) and Carly Mensch (Orange is the New Black), both of whom will act as showrunners on the series.

Part of Brie’s selectivity around her roles probably relates to her busy schedule. Brie is also Executive Producer for the TV Land comedy series Teachers, which was renewed for a second season.

Brie also has a few other projects that are nearing completion. First up is The Masterpiece – a behind the scenes look at the making of The Room. After this is The Headhunter’s Calling – a film about a battle for control of a top company, in which Brie will star alongside Gerard Butler and Willem Dafoe. Following this is The Little Hours, which also stars Parks & Recreation alumni Aubrey Plaza and Nick Offerman.